This easy Chinese Shrimp Toast is a crispy & light appetizer made with airy bready and bouncy shrimp paste. Instead of deep frying, this shrimp toast is made in the air fryer or oven without the oily taste – healthier and just as delicious!

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What is Shrimp Toast?
Chinese shrimp toast is a popular dim sum food that is made with a flavorful shrimp paste spread on white bread, coated in sesame seeds, and deep-fried to golden perfection. You typically dip the shrimp on toast in a condensed milk and mayo sauce. For our version, we are trying to do a healthier option by baking it (instead of frying in oil) to achieve that crunchy and light exterior.
Ingredients
Here’s a look at what you need to make this Chinese Shrimp Toast. The highlights are here but the full ingredient list and quantities of each are in the recipe card.
To make this recipe delicious, I recommend using a high quality white bread. I like to use white bread from Asian bakeries like Paris baguette and Tour les jours for the nice stretchy texture. I also like to only use one side of the bread instead of the traditional two slices. I think it tastes better this way ◡̈ (less bread hehe).
I use frozen shrimp and de-frost them for this recipe. After I peel them, I start cuting them into very small pieces and it ends up being a paste. I like adding cilantro and green onions into the shrimp for more flavor. Feel free to substitute the cilantro with more green onions or simply omit!
Substitutions and Variations
- Substitute with your favorite bread! Traditionally white bread us used for this dish. However, you can use whole wheat bread or sourdough.
- Change up the herbs. If you don’t like cilantro, you can some parsley or basil instead. You can always omit this and the dish will taste delicious.
- If you like it spicy, you can also add some chili flakes to your shrimp filling.
How to Make Chinese Shrimp Toast
Step 1. Peel and devein the shrimp. Start to dice and chop the shrimp with a knife until the shrimp becomes a paste. Alternatively, you can put the shrimp in a food processor if you don’t want to dice the shrimp. I like to chop it by hand because I like the different textures of the shrimp.
Step 2. Prep the cilantro and green onions. Chop 4 stalks of cilantro (can be replaced with green onion or jalapeno) finely and slice 1 green onion. Next, mix the shrimp with salt, sugar, pinch of white pepper, corn starch, egg white, chopped cilantro and sliced green onion. Mix together.
Step 3. Cut the white bread in squares (4 squares for each slice of bread). Place shrimp filling on top of the white bread and add some sesame seeds to garnish.
Step 4. Before baking, add some 1-2 tablespoons of light olive oil and sesame seeds to the top of the shrimp toast. You can air fry or bake the shrimp toast at 350F for 7 minutes. Top with some kewpie mayo and hope you enjoy!
Expert Tips
- Use a high quality white bread like Japanese shokupan or a brioche bread. The light and fluffy texture will bake into a crispy airy bread.
- Chop your shrimp very finely until it turns into a paste. If you mince you shrimp and the pieces are too big, it doesn’t create that bouncy texture that we’re looking for.
- I prefer to use one slice of bread with the filling instead of the traditional two slices. This way, you can get more shrimp in every bite.
Recipe FAQs
Yes you can, but be careful not to over blend it. Keep in mind, the shrimp paste tastes best when you hand chop it. The varying textures makes it more bouncy and delicious.
You can serve the shrimp toast with kewpie mayo dip. Or dip of your choice. I love dipping on Chinese Congee with Pork or even in this Creamy Cilantro Sauce. If you want a full Cantonese breakfast, don’t forget the Beef Chow Fun.
Check Out More Chinese Recipes
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Chinese Shrimp Toast
Ingredients
- 9-10 large shrimp peeled and de-veined
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon sugar
- pinch of white pepper
- 1 tablespoon corn starch
- 1 egg white
- 1 green onion sliced
- 4 stalks cilantro
- 3 slices white bread
- 1-2 tablespoon light olive oil
garnish
- sesame seeds
- kewpie mayo
Instructions
- Prep the cilantro and green onions. Chop cilantro (can be replaced with green onion or jalapeno) finely and chop green onions.
- Peel and devein the shrimp. Start to dice and chop the shrimp with a knife until the shrimp becomes a paste. Alternatively, you can put the shrimp in a food processor if you don't want to dice the shrimp. I like to chop it by hand because I like the different textures of the shrimp.
- Next, mix the shrimp with salt, sugar, white pepper, corn starch, egg white, cilantro and green onion. You want to mix in one direction for one minute until the mixture is well combined.
- Cut the white bread in squares (4 squares for each slice of bread). You may cut off the crusts if you like but I don't like to waste the bread.
- Place 1 tbs of shrimp filling on top of the white bread and add some sesame seeds to garnish.
- Before baking, add some oil and sesame seeds to the top of the shrimp toast. You can air fry or bake the shrimp toast at 375F for 8-9 minutes. Top with some kewpie mayo and hope you enjoy these delicious shrimp toasts!
Video
@cookwithdana shrimp toast >>> avocado toast full recipe on ig: cookwithdanaa ❤️#dinnerparty #chinesefood #dimsum #bread #asianfood #foodontiktok #bussin
♬ original sound – darcy stokes
Notes
- Use a high quality white bread like Japanese shokupan or a brioche bread. The light and fluffy texture will bake into a crispy airy bread.
- Chop your shrimp very finely until it turns into a paste. If you mince you shrimp and the pieces are too big, it doesn’t create that bouncy texture that we’re looking for.
- I prefer to use one slice of bread with the filling instead of the traditional two slices. This way, you can get more shrimp in every bite.
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